When did you learn to
make music and DJ? Was there a moment that sparked your interest in music?
I started playing the piano at a very young age and then the love for the
"keyboard" itself made me want to put it altogether in producing! And
I can't think of any moment specifically, I grew up going to church, so music
was always around me in a heavily effective way. I'd have to say that it wasn't
until I started to DJ that I began to feel like I found a place. Finally
found a place.
You are actively
working against the constant erasure of black trans women’s vital role in black
history, and U.S. history, through your art. What does it mean to be visible as
a black transgender woman in 2021?
To put it in layman's terms, it's hard. You're up against so
much. The violence against transwomen from cis-men, the misgendering, the
standards---but on that same coin, on the other side, it's beautiful, it's
powerful, it's expression. It's the human experience amplified, honestly. I
find myself being very thankful to those who came before me, I realize more and
more each day what their contributions have done to the grand scheme of society
and if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't have made it this far.
Briefly describe your
connection with the Coalition for Black Trans Economic Liberation and the
crucial work that they do.
My connection with the coalition is a deep one. I know both
of the founders very personally, we've practically lived together for the past
few years. In that time, I've learned so much about community and true
leadership in that time. It makes me happy to know the love I got from these
people will go into the world, a lot of people need it.
How important is
Philadelphia’s rich history of Ballroom within the legacy of Black music? What,
if anything, is missing in the current education, presentation and documenting
of Ballroom culture?
I can answer both of these questions at the same damn time!
Philadelphia has such an important staple in the overall ballroom history,
especially in the music department, and I think the main thing missing in
all of these documentations of ballroom IS Philadelphia. Don't get
me wrong, we know who the New York girls are and they have a million more
stories to tell, but we have to acknowledge the deep history that a lot of
ballroom legends and icons share with Philadelphia. Most of people's favorites
have either been a part of a Philadelphia-Chapter House or lived in Philly for
some amount of time to where everyone knew that person was here. On top of
that, MSFB (Mother Father Sister Brother) is from Philadelphia. If it
wasn't for the "Love Is The Message" track that is THE ballroom song,
Madonna and Malcolm McLaren would've been biting their nails figuring out
something else, just saying! Over all, I think we could use more education on
all of the cities outside of the popular ones that we've seen. Some of those
places need closure on status as well. Because
the ballroom scene can be so centralized, a lot of people go unnoticed as being
the barrier breakers in their own city and I think we need to have that
highlighted more often.
Your magnificent
2-hour mix for us is a much-needed ode to the Ballroom genre and the expressive
dance known as Voguing, full of sensational house sampling and great energy!
How were you feeling while making it?
Well, anytime I play tracks from the "Paradise
Garage" era, I always feel like I'm one of the DJs there. I feel
like it's 1991, I'm spinning in some underground, packed, warehouse, queens and
queers, sweating walls and my intention is to make everyone get into their
inner femme queen as long as I'm playing. I want them to feel as Proper as
Pepper and as daring as Dorian. The same goes for when I play more the modern
beatz as well.
This line stood out
to me in the description of your latest ep, “Khadijah Vol. 6”, and I feel it
captures the vivid, encompassing energy present in your music and performance: [“We
must remember that it is the pre-ball ciphers that brought us here. It
was the "neicy neicy neicy"'s in the houses, in your socks, smoking a
blunt and voguing with your girlfriends that got us here. It is the
heart-pounding moment when it is 3-3 and an Icon has to break the tie.”] What
does this say about your world and your journey so far?
That my journey came from the mattress on the floor, my
journey came from not having and if it wasn't for those experiences and stories
that I've gained throughout life and this career, I wouldn't be the talent I
am. I wanted to let folks know that while we elevate into this new realm
of fame and "fortune", we can't lose a fortune to a curse. We
got to remember the very bare elements that attracted us to the scene, the
things that drew us in from a cold, disrespectful, unforgiving world.
Because the ballroom scene can be so centralized, a lot of people go unnoticed as being the barrier breakers in their own city, and I think we need to have that highlighted more often.
What are some
similarities or differences between DJing and performing? And do you prefer one
over the other?
It really depends on what the atmosphere is calling for.
Most of the time, it's easier to DJ. For me, both make me bring out my full self. The biggest similarity you
could say there is how much both actions invoke so much emotion from me.
Who are some of your
musical influences and all-time favorite artists and icons?
I have so many favorites. Missy Elliott, of course. Timbaland, Flying Lotus, Busta Rhymes, DJ Vjuan
Allure, J*DaVeY, Little Dragon, Sy Smith and the list goes on...
